James Simos: Yampa Valley Electric Board member

In November, Colorado will be the first state in the country to hold a statewide vote on renewable energy. The ballot measure calls for 10 percent of Colorado's electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2015. I think Amendment 37 will take the electric industry in the wrong direction, and cost consumers a lot of money.

Much like the TABOR and Gallagher amendments and Amendment 23, the school funding measure, most voters might think this renewable initiative seems like a great idea at first glance. But when you begin to read the bill, much of it is cause for alarm. Plain and simple, if this measure is passed, it will handcuff electric utilities in our state and cause consumers to pay more for their electricity. The state's two largest energy providers think Amendment 37 could have an increased cost of $2 billion during the next 20 years. These costs would be passed on to the ratepayers.

I encourage Coloradans to vote against Amendment 37. While all of us support green power, we, the consumers, should not have to carry the burden of a poorly written mandate.